At long last, it looks like the humble Cr-48 is going to get the sibling it didn’t know it always wanted. Sources from within the Chinese supply chain have leaked information that Google is preparing to launch a second own-brand Chromebook. This time around, it looks like it’s going to line up smaller MacBooks (in size, at least) rather than the oft-villified netbook — which has now been declared dead more times than Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

The new Google Chromebook is rumored to feature a 12.85-inch display, and it’s also not going to rely strictly on keyboard and mouse input for user interaction. No, this Chromebook is going to offer full-on multitouch support. You’ll be able to employ pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures to navigate, and (perhaps more importantly) the single-finger pull-back-and-release needed to enjoy Angry Birds in the browser.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said at one point that any device the company released that sported a touchscreen would run Android, not Chrome OS. Times change, of course, and so do attitudes. Chrome OS has plenty of under-the-hood tweaks designed for touchscreens. And with the launch of Windows 8, PC OEMs have already begun pumping out more designs that offer an integrated multitouch experience. More than ever, users simply expect touch controls when they’re computing.

Nothing’s official at this point, but if Google does indeed plan on bringing a new Chromebook to market early next year, CES 2013 might be a good time to show it off. Then again, Google’s been more than happy to launch new products at its own events — or simply throw up some new blog posts when Mother Nature throws a wrench into the works.